Suspect's bail set at $50 million

By KERY MURAKAMI and AMY ROLPH, P-I REPORTERS

Published 10:00 pm, Friday, July 28, 2006

About a half hour before he opened fire Friday afternoon at the downtown Seattle Jewish Federation offices, Naveed Afzal Haq's white pickup truck was stopped and cited by a Seattle Police traffic officer before being let go, Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said at a press conference this afternoon.

The violation was a minor one -- driving on Third Avenue during a time when only buses are allowed on the street during the closure of the Metro's bus tunnel. "There was nothing (Haq) did to arouse the officer's suspicions,' Kerlikowske said.

But within only minutes, Haq was hiding behind a large potted plant in the foyer of an organization he found on the Internet with two recently purchased semi-automatic handguns, waiting to abduct a teenager and force his way into the office.

Police say Haq on Friday went on to kill one woman -- identified today by friends of her family as Pam Waechter, of Bellevue, the federation's annual campaign director.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Harborview Medical Center said this morning that the condition of three on the victims has been upgraded from critical to serious condition. The other two continue to be listed in satisfactory condition.

The disclosure about the traffic stop was one of several new details Kerlikowske released, and came shortly after King County District Court Judge Barbara Linde this afternoon set bail for Haq at $50 million.

Once inside the building, Haq, who also carried a large amount of ammunition, started shooting, wounding Dayna Klein, a pregnant woman in the arm.

On Friday, Marla Meislin-Dietrich, a database coordinator for the center, told reporters: "He said, 'I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel,' before opening fire on everyone," "He was randomly shooting at everyone."

Today Kerlikowske heralded Klein as a hero.

He said the pregnant woman had protected her womb for Haq's salvo with her arm. She fell to the floor after she was shot, but managed to crawl back to her office and call police despite Haq's warnings not to call 911.

Kerlikowske said Haq specifically told the woman "not to do that. But she continued to tell the 911 operators what was happening."

After listening to the 911 tapes, Kerlikowske described Haq as initially enraged. Haq "wanted the U.S. to leave Iraq, that his people had been mistreated, that the U.S. was arming Israel, and he didn't care if he died," Kerlikowske recounted.

Kerlikowske also called the 911 dispatchers heroes.

He credited the dispatchers with calming the distraught man until finally he said. "'I'm going to lay down my guns.'" About 12 minutes later, he exited the building with his hands on his head and was arrested by police.

Ritzy Ryciak / Special to the P-I

Naveed Afzal Haq, 30, is brought into the courtroom after being booked into the King County Jail.

Kerlikowske said the 30-year-old man, who is from the Tri Cities area, legally purchased the guns at two different gun shops, picking them up after the required waiting period on Thursday -- the day before the shooting.

He was booked into the King County jail late Friday night after he was questioned by police.

Today, Haq was lead into the courtroom in a prison t-shirt that said "KCJ ultra-security inmate." The prosecutor's office, under questioning by Linde, said at this time the county does not plan to present a capital case against Haq -- one that could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment. But the prosecution team said circumstances might change.

Photographers and reporters jammed the small courtroom straining to catch a glimpse of the suspect who was separated from the courtroom by a glass partition. Haq had asked the judge through his attorney to bar all cameras and video taping in the courtroom. But Linde denied that motion, saying she had to balance the "fair trial" argument with the fact the court was a public forum.

King County Prosecutor Dan Donahoe said his office was reviewing the case and planned to file formal charges on Wednesday.

"We wanted the high bail to ensure he remains in custody," Donohoe said after Saturday's court appearance.

AP

Naveed Afzal Haq, 30, is brought into the courtroom after being booked into the King County Jail for investigation of homicide and attempted homicide on Saturday. Haq surrendered to a SWAT team moments after the shooting began Friday afternoon at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, where he killed one person and wounded five others. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)

Kerlikowske said police served warrants on two residences in the Tri-Cities, including Haq's apartment and his parents' home. There they seized at least three computers.

That evidence had just arrived in Seattle this afternoon Kerlikowske said. But he indicated police believed the Haq had used the Internet to target the foundation after searching for any Jewish-related buildings.

In a phone interview today, Robert Jacobs, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of Seattle, said. "I'm exhausted. I've had a sleepless night with the families who were shot, including Pam Waechter. You read about things like this in the paper and said it's a good thing this doesn't happen in Seattle. This shows this happens anywhere and we cannot weaken our vigilance."

"I can't even describe how horrible everyone in the community feels. Shock, disbelief," Shehadeb said.

Shehadeb recalled Haq as quiet and something of a loner. Shehadeb said he and Haq's father, Mian Haq, both work at the Hanford nuclear reservation, as do many members of the area's Muslim community.

Mian Haq was listed in the facility's directory, but it was not clear what type of work he did. All workers at Hanford must have federal security clearance, which includes a background check. No one answered the door to an Associated Press reporter on Saturday at the Haq residence north of Pasco.

The shootings come just weeks after Jewish leaders told Congress that there was a "critical threat" to their institutions nationwide because of escalating tensions in the Middle East.The FBI has labeled the shootings a "hate crime" based on what the gunman told police in a 911 call.

Ritzy Ryciak / Special to the P-I

Photographers look in at Naveed Afzal Haq, 30, while King County District Court Judge Barbara Linde set bail for him at $50 million on Saturday afternoon.

The Arab American Community Coalition reacted "with shock and sorrow" to the shootings."Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," said the coalition's Rita Zawaideh in a statement faxed to the media this morning. "We urge our law enforcement agencies to take all necessary actions to prevent such crims from happening against Jews, Arabs and Muslims in the future."

The group cancelled a march that had been scheduled today to call for a ceasefire in the Middle East "in light of yesterday's violent actions, and out of concern for the safety of members of the Arab-American community and the general public."

"Violence against anyone because of ethincity or religion does not advance the cause of peace, justice and liberation in Lebanon, Palestine or Israel." And speaking of Seattle and its diverse religious and ethic community, the statement continued: "This crime is not a reflection of what our community is about."

Standing outside the Idris Mosque in Northgate Saturday night about a dozenMuslim Americans and Pakistani-Americans said they wanted to express theirsympathy for the shooting victims and support for the Jewish community.

"Our communties strongly condemn this mindless and hate filled crime against innocent people," Aziz Junejo said during a media briefing. "Our sincere condolencesand heartfelt sympathy goes to the families of these victims of this attack and to the Jewish community."

After reading a prepared statement Junejo said in an interview that the gunmanwas not a familiar name among leaders in the Puget Sound Muslim community. Healso said that he and others were planning to visit the injured shooting victims, perhaps as early as Sunday.

They first wanted to make sure that such a visit could happen privately, away from the media.

Junejo said he felt compelled to speak up because of the deep wellof support Seattle's Jewish community showed local Muslims and Arabs after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.